Parliament Stalled Over FDI Issue


Parliament remained stalled for the seventh consecutive day as opposition and a section of ruling alliance members created uproar on foreign direct investment in retail and various issues leading to adjournments in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha till noon.No sooner Speaker Meira Kumar called for the Question Hour signaling a start to the day’s proceedings than members rushed to the aisles demanding a rollback of the controversial decision to allow FDI in retail.Some members of the ruling Congress as also of the Telugu Desam Party were seen waving placards demanding creation of a separate Telangana State.Members of the Trinamool Congress, a key partner in the government, were also seen waving placards and raising slogans on rollback of the decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent FDI in single brand retail.The TDP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Shiv Sena members rushed to the well of the Lok Sabha while others continued their protests from the aisles.The Speaker’s repeated pleas of “Let us run the House” failed to restore order as members continued their protests. Apparently sensing the mood, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till noon.In the Rajya Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Janata Dal(United) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members were on their feet shouting slogans against the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retailing even before Chairman Hamid Ansari took his seat.”FDI vapas lo, vapas lo,” they shouted as Mr. Ansari took up the first listed question.

Members from Kerala moved into aisles raising the issue of safety of the Mullaperiyar dam in the State. R.N. Pany (BJP) and other members from his party trooped into the well creating din.Mr. Ansari then adjourned the House till 12 noon.Parliament has not transacted any significant business since the Winter Session began on November 22.The Parliament was adjourned for the seventh day on Wednesday with the opposition refusing to allow proceedings before the government accepted its demand to reverse decision on FDI in retail.As soon as the two Houses assembled the opposition members were up on their feet demanding an adjournment motion to discuss the FDI issue.With the members refusing to heed to the Chair, both the Houses were adjourned till noon.However when the Houses reconvened, the ruckus continued leading to adjournment for the day.Earlier in the morning, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee briefed Congress MPs on government’s policy on the issue.This after the divide within the Congress once again came to the fore on Tuesday.

Party MP from Uttar Pradesh Sanjay Singh openly opposed the government’s FDI decision and sought a rollback.Meanwhile, the BJP has stepped up its attack on the government.Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has questioned why the government is running away from a discussion on FDI in retail.Taking a dig at the government Sushma said in a tweet, “This means the government does not have majority support in the Parliament on this decision.”Sushma further tweeted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is isolated on this decision.She said, “His cabinet, his party, his alliance partners, his supporting parties – nobody is with this decision. He should first convince them before commenting on the Opposition.”